Last night, despite wanting to get to bed early and get a good night's sleep--things which have eluded me lately-- I stayed up until two a.m. or so reading This Charming Man, the new Marian Keyes novel. God, she is just so good. I was riveted. I loved Lola and Grace. I agonized for Marnie. I was not as sympathetic as I ought to have been with Alicia. I want to read it again, to linger, because last night I was so anxious I raced to the finish, desperately hoping everything would work out.

Such a good book. The only downside is I now have to wait years for the next one!

Here's the UK version, which I imported and gulped down:



(Yes, that is a toaster. And by the way, how did she manage to take a subject which I don't believe has been covered in the wider chick lit arena before and make it hot instead of A Great Tragic Secret? Well done, Marian. I wish I had a Chloe of my own!)

And here's the US version, which will be available here in June:



Also: I am now obsessed with the word "fizzog," which I am relatively certain means "face."

The new Elizabeth George novel, Careless In Red just arrived at my doorstep. I am both incredibly excited and equally apprehensive to start reading it. I talked a bit about her last book, a companion to the Lynley novels, here. Am I ready to accept the new world she's created for her characters? Am I emotionally prepared? Probably not. But there's only one way to find out...

Meanwhile I have written what I think comprises the first act of my current WIP. Yes, I like to think of my books as having the classic three act structure, as this allows me to fantasize about lucrative Hollywood options etc. As ever, reaching this point has sent me crashing headfirst into the first wall. There's one right about at the end of the first act, many assorted walls throughout the torturous second act, and usually one involving the conclusion. Because I do not outline but am distressingly linear, it is necessary at this point to go back and fix what I know to be broken before I move forward. (And by "fix" I mean "jury-rig until the full draft edit, at which point you will inevitably wonder wtf you were doing here.") One step forward, two steps back. Word by revised, edited, and never-planned-in-advance word...

There's a great Mother's Day Book Extravaganza Giveaway of 5 Spot books here. Enter to win copies of Names My Sisters Call Me, two Jane Porter books, and more!

There's a cool review of Names My Sisters Call Me here, which makes me very happy, and then, over here, they say the book is a great selection for a Mother's Day gift. Very cool!

And this is the funniest thing I've read in ages:

From Jezebel: The Mister Darcy Delusion is the notion, popularized by the early 19th century author Jane Austen, that the smug asshole who calls you fat at the party is really just a misunderstood studmuffin held in by early 19th century social conventions who will turn into Colin Firth if you give him a chance. Well chicas, Jane Austen died a spinster (thank you, Anne Hathaway) and it's the 21st century, and if he looks like a prick and he talks like a prick and he walks like a prick, well, chances are you've had sex with him.

Today it is a little bit drizzly, which is very exciting, weather-wise, for Los Angelenos. By which I mean, it's different. It is certainly preferable to the blistering heat. Now that I think about it, we've had more weather in the past few weeks than in some years. What's that about? I blame global warming. And also Spencer Pratt, as I believe his hideousness is such it could alter weather patterns.

Trashionista reviews Names My Sisters Call Me-- and gives it 5 out of 5! I love them over there.

Also, I have the brand new Marian Keyes novel in my hot little hands. I imported it from the UK because I found that I was unable to wait until its American release next month. I am plotting when the best time will be to read it-- because I know that once I start, I will be sucked in until I finish, useless for all other things. (And if the emotional wallop is anything like the last one, useless for sometime thereafter.) I can't wait.

In the meantime, look who's back on the GCC: Shanna Swendson, with DON'T HEX WITH TEXAS.



About the Book:

Shanna Swendson delivers the magic, love, and humor her readers have come to crave in DON’T HEX WITH TEXAS (Ballantine Books Trade Paperback Original; On Sale: April 29, 2008).

Katie Chandler has fled fast-paced Manhattan and returned home to a simpler life, working at her family’s feed-and-seed store in Cobb, Texas. In a painfully selfless gesture, Katie left the sexy wizard Owen Palmer to battle his demons in the magical realm—after all, she just seemed to attract evil, which only made Owen’s job a lot harder. But now, it seems, trouble has followed her home. Despite the fact that Merlin, Katie’s former boss at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has assured her that Cobb is free of enchantment, magically speaking, Katie begins to notice curious phenomena.

Cobb is being plagued by a series of unexplainable petty crimes and other devilish mischief, and after her experiences in Manhattan, Katie knows “unauthorized magic” when she sees it. As this new dark magic strikes deep in the heart of Texas, Owen reappears (literally) to investigate. Now Katie’s friends and family must show the bad guys why it’s bad luck to hex with Texas, while Katie and Owen combine their strengths like never before to uncover a sinister plot before evil takes root in the Lone Star State.

Swendson’s contemporary urban fantasy novels have enchanted fans of romance, chick lit and fantasy alike. DON’T HEX WITH TEXAS—and don’t miss what Booklist calls “one of the best romantic-fantasy series being written today”!

About the Author:

SHANNA SWENDSON escaped the corporate rat race to be a novelist and pop culture essayist. She is the author of Enchanted, Inc. and Once Upon Stilettos, in addition to contributing essays to books about television series, authors, and novels. When she’s not writing or watching television and movies so she can write about them, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and singing.

Visit her web site or read her blog. Or do as I do with this awesome series and just buy the book!

This is the fourth book in the series, but I know Shanna has a fifth in mind (and, I believe, in outline form) so if you love Katie Chandler's story as much as I do, make sure you vote for book five by getting out there, getting the book, and letting the world know how delightful this series is!

Loretta Chase, The Last Hellion. This kicked serious ass. There is the usual razor-sharp repartee between hero and heroine that one expects from Loretta Chase. Old friends show up in surprising ways. The heroine is quite independent and marvelously un-cowed by the hero. I loved every moment!

Michelle Rowen, Lady & the Vamp. This series is so awesome. This is the third book in Rowen's "Immortality Bites" series, and it's a departure. Instead of focusing on new vampire Sarah Dearly and her smoking hot master vampire boyfriend Thierry (so, yeah, I have a crush), it focuses on Michael Quinn, former vampire hunter turned vampire, who used to be a contender for Sarah's affections. This is a fun, sexy book, and I adore Janie, the heroine. Rush out and get it now!

Elizabeth Hoyt, To Taste Temptation. Wow, Elizabeth Hoyt can write steamy. Good lord. Oh, yes, and there is also a fantastic, rugged sort of hero who bows to no convention and a delightfully crisp heroine. I dove into this book and don't remember coming up for air. And it's the first of a four-part series. Hooray!

Sara Hantz, The Second Virginity of Suzy Green. This is a very cool YA book set in Australia, which was a nice change for me. Our narrator has moved to a new school and created a new identity for herself after a family tragedy, which works well enough for her until her past turns up. Compulsive reading.

Robert Crais, The Monkey's Raincoat. This is the first book in one of J.'s favorite series of all time. And here is my question for you, my beloved readers: what is the rest of this series like? Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this book. But I didn't find protagonist and private eye Elvis Cole as hilarious as advertised. Or really at all. I found him sexist, and "hardboiled" in that way that I find off-putting-- like his penchant for sleeping with, or having slept with, every single female in the book. Naturally, all women are drawn to him, etc. etc. On the other hand, there's no denying that this was a terrific mystery, and I love things that are set in LA, and the book was written in 1987, after all. So... is it worth it to overlook offensive sentences like this one: "All I needed now was a London Fog slung casually over my shoulders and a cigarette dangling from my lip, and she'd probably rape me"? Let me know...

Libba Bray, The Sweet Far Thing. Oh, this book. I can't really get over it, or get it out of my head. I had much the same emotional response to this book as I did to the end of Buffy. Growing up is hard. You lose so much, though you fight so hard. And for all your magic and your growing power, you still have to learn how to let go. Bittersweet and haunting.

Karen Robards, Guilty. What happens when you've changed your entire life after a misspent youth, and it shows up to bite you in the ass? Excellent romantic suspense.

Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files. This is one of the best books I've read in years. It is not like anything else I've read. It is its own crazy, twisted, absolutely delightful ride, and I think you should race out and get it immediately. I read it in one night and bought the sequel the next day. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Lisa Kleypas, Sugar Daddy and Blue-Eyed Devil. So, I've never read a Lisa Kleypas book before. I think I picked up Sugar Daddy at RWA last summer, and I remember cracking open and thinking, I don't want start when the narrator is four years old, and I'm not sure about this first person nonsense in a romance novel, and that was that. Then I read about Blue-Eyed Devil, and it sounded like a book I'd like, and I read the first page and was intrigued, but quickly discovered that it was kind of the second in the series, so I started with Sugar Daddy despite myself and... wow. Just, wow. I was blown away! Both of these books are amazing! I found them impossible to put down-- both kept me up well after midnight. The stories are fantastic, and the writing absolutely enchanted me. How did she do it?? Count me as a new Lisa Kleypas fan!

Hooray! It's Friday! Nothing like working really hard all week to make me appreciate the weekend. Especially since I stayed out way too late last night at the not-even-slightly-as-cool-as-it-thinks-it-is Standard Hotel on the crowded-with-complete-idiots Sunset Strip. So I am feeling slightly tragic and ready-to-lounge-through-Saturday today, assuming I achieve a reasonable word count on my work-in-progress. Why am I hyphenating like a madwoman? I do not know.

Last night Liza Palmer and I went to Santa Monica to see the amazing Jennifer Weiner read from her new book, Certain Girls. But she is not the sort of author who sticks rigidly to one topic, so in addition to talking about her book, she also talked about reality television, whether female writers should concern themselves with garnering male reader attention via their covers when the majority of readers are women (answer: um, no), her baby who was almost on TMZ, her adventures in Hollywood, and much, much more. She is not only awesome, but friendly and approachable and nice. It was the best reading I've been to in ages-- maybe ever!

Here's a picture of me and Liza crouched like gargoyles on Jennifer Weiner's shoulders:



Another highlight was meeting the very cool Julie Buxbaum whose Opposite of Love I have been seeing everywhere over the past few months. I'm sure you have too.

Here's a picture of all of us crouched like gargoyles on Jennifer Weiner's shoulders:



And to help you feel as if you were there too, perhaps gargoyle-ing it up with us, we're running a book giveaway over on the 5 Spot blog. Enter to win a signed copy of Certain Girls!

And have a great weekend, while you're at it.

World Peace

Begins With Turn Signals

Seriously, Los Angeles. It's not hard. The lever is right there next to the hand you keep on the steering wheel. You don't even have to put down your phone to use it...

Oh, sweet Eighties. I don't miss you at all, but I know all the words...

"Don't say you're easy on me, you're about as easy as a nuclear war..."

It is way too hot, given that it is still April. I have the sense the summer is going to be hideous, and this is a preview, with the hills on fire and smoke in the air. This is the price we pay for beautiful weather in December, and on some level I accept that, but... April? Can't we start the annual paying of prices in, say, July?

I comfort myself with the love of a good hound. Highly recommended to cure all your ills:



And now I must return to writing, writing, writing. Nothing like a first draft to keep you up at night, I find. And leaping out of bed far too early in the morning, no matter how little sleep happened in between. Thankfully, there is caffeine, without which I would have great aspirations and very few pages indeed.

The LA Times Festival of Books is so much fun. Thousands of people converge upon the UCLA campus for one weekend and celebrate books-- all kinds of books. Slim volumes of poetry, celebrity memoirs, literary fiction, self-published works, nonfiction, commercial fiction, comics, many religious texts, Ayn Rand aficionados, and anything else you can think of, as far as the eye can see.



Traditionally, it is also a zillion degrees, and this weekend was no different. Temperatures hit the 100s, I'm pretty sure.

Saturday, Liza Palmer and I hit the festival together, since we both had signings. (You can read her account over on the 5 Spot blog.)

I had my first signing at the Borders booth, which is always cool:



Because Robert Crais and I are totally close:



Signing madly:



This is basically a surveillance shot of Liza from across the madding crowd (which you can see reflected in her sunglasses-- very cool):



Then it was time for Liza to sign at the Book Soup booth:





After which, we staggered to our respective homes and fell into heat-stroke-like swoons. Or anyway, that's certainly what I did with my poor sun-addled brain. It was way too hot, people.

Today, Sunday, I headed back to the Book Soup booth, delighted that the slight cloud cover meant that it had cooled maybe two degrees from the inferno conditions the day before. It was practically wintry in comparison!



J., my trusty event photographer, was on hand to capture the glory:



Though he did not, sadly, capture the two great moments of my signing. Number one: the woman (let's call her my new favorite person) who bought the Collected Works of Megan Crane-- that's right, all four novels, hooray! Or number two: the three girls who each wanted a picture with yours truly, making me feel very much like a rock star. Oh, well. It was still terrific!



And now we are hiding from the sun and heat like vampires waiting for dark.

See you next year at the Festival, I hope!

I'm interpreting this to mean that Bookslut is weary of the endless Chick Lit Debate.

Me too, Jessa. Me too.

I'll be at the LA Times Festival of Books all weekend, and signing books both days: Saturday, April 26, at the Borders booth at 2:00 pm, and Sunday, April 27, at the Book Soup booth at 11:30 am.

I'd love to see you, so please come by and say hello!

Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know. I'm pretty sure this is the second standalone Lippman book I've read, having never read any of her Tess Monaghan series. This is a beguiling sort of thriller, that pulls you in and carries you off. I loved it. And I just ordered the first Tess Monaghan book, because I can't see denying myself Lippman's deep and incredibly satisfying writing one moment more...

Loretta Chase, Captives of the Night. Yum. Wit and adventure and mystery and another delicious Loretta Chase romance. I just love, love, love romances that feature very smart protagonists trying to outwit each other. Sigh.

Anne Stuart, Hidden Honor. What's better, an Anne Stuart contemporary romance or an Anne Stuart historical? Thank goodness we don't have to choose. Deception and monks and a strong heroine to match a deliciously conflicted hero. I heart Anne Stuart.

Eve Kenin, Driven. I probably don't even need to tell you about this book, since it just (deservedly) won Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Best Futuristic Romance Award. Except this: I loved it.

Linda Lael Miller, The Man from Stone Creek. Someone recommended Linda Lael Miller to me. Maybe even this book? And I wasn't at all sure I was ready to dive back in to cowboy books-- given that the last cowboy books I remember reading were a long, long time ago. (Maybe Johanna Lindsey cowboy books back in the day?) But this was great. I loved it! And I just noticed on Amazon that this is part of a series so... there we go. I am helpless when confronted with series romances, especially when I start at the beginning. Bring on the cowboys!

Linda Howard, Cover of Night. This was a re-read. I couldn't get this one scene out of my head, and I had to read the book again because of it. The heroine in this book is a widow who has effectively cut herself off from noticing any eligible men around her. And then, one day, she notices the hero. I loved what Howard did with this-- how blind the heroine had been and how completely wrong she was about the hero. I loved that the hero blushed and bumbled and essentially acted like an idiot around the heroine the whole time she failed to see him as a man, and how, the moment her eyes were opened, he stopped blushing and bumbling. Yum.

Jane Porter, The Sultan's Bought Bride, The Sheikh's Wife, The Italian's Virgin Princess, Marco's Pride, In Dante's Debt, The Greek's Royal Mistress, and The Secretary's Seduction. I really, really love these books. In fact, I'm a little upset because I am reading through Jane's Presents backlist at a furious pace, and I think I'm almost finished with it. AND THEN WHAT? The problem is that Presents are addictive. That intense emotional punch, the drama and the glamor, and it's all wrapped up in 185 pages. I find these books are absolutely perfect at the end of a long day. They make plane trips zip by. And I love, love, love them. I'm so glad I started reading categories again. They make me so happy! (Note to Jane Porter: Please, please, please write more!)

Liza posted excerpts from our interview here over at the Huffington Post. Interested in what she's calling The Chick LIt Debate? Chime in over there!

Meanwhile, we have some GCC goodness here. I don't mind telling you that this book is already on its way to me, thanks to Amazon:



About the book:

Suzy Green used to be one of the coolest nonconformist “almost-Goth” party girls in Australia. That was before her older sister Rosie died and her family moved to a new town. Not even her best friend would recognize her now. Gone are the Doc Martens and the attitude. All she wants is to be like Rosie—perfect. The new Suzy Green makes straight As, hangs with the in-crowd at her new school, and dates the hottest guy around. And since all her new friends belong to a virginity club, she joins, too. So what if she’s not technically qualified? Nobody in town knows . . . until Ryan, Suzy’s ex, turns up.

As the past and present collide, Suzy struggles to find her own place in a world without her sister.

About the author:

Sara Hantz started writing when she ran out of degrees to study and decided it was much more fun to make things up than to comment on dry academics. Born in England, she moved to New Zealand a few years ago. The Second Virginity of Suzy Green is Sara's first novel.

Read an excerpt here. Or you can check out Sara’s blog here. Or you can do as I do, and just buy the book.

A picture of me, Liza Palmer, and an S Factor pole made it into PWDaily as the Picture of the Day. My mother will be so proud.

She will no doubt also be delighted by the mess evident in this picture on Jennifer Echols's blog. That's my office, folks. Where all this magic happens. And where I make piles upon piles upon piles...

Are you getting excited for the LA Times Festival of Books?

I know I am. It's such a great way to spend a weekend-- wandering around the pretty UCLA campus, with a hundred thousand or so other book lovers.

I'll be there, wandering around and discovering books and authors. I'll also be signing both days: Saturday, April 26, at the Borders booth at 2:00 pm, and Sunday, April 27, at the Book Soup booth at 11:30 am. I'd love to see you, so please come by and say hello!

Last night I had my book reading at Sheila Kelly's S Factor LA Studio, and let me tell you, it was amazing!

If there is a better way to follow up a reading and signing than some outrageous pole dancing demos, I certainly do not know what that could be.

Here are stacks of books, Book Soup style (all pictures thanks to Liza Palmer:



Here I am near a pole, getting my S on:



This is me at my glorious purple table. You have to excuse the red eyes. The S Factor likes to keep the room dark and moody, with red lights and mystery (and who could argue?):



Here's a shot of the fantastic audience. They were all so much fun!



And here's the book signing line, featuring the absolutely adorable in all ways Amy Tangerine, who stopped by during one of the twelve or so hours she was in LA. (Want to check out the Amy Tangerine line? Visit Kitson)



This is just a hint at the many reasons the S Factor rules:



Here are the fabulous and fierce Carolyn of Kim-from-LA, who put the entire event together, and her supercool roommate Genevieve (by the way, I love that name!):



And here I am, relaxing in a chair that is more commonly used in the S Factor world for practicing lap dances:



What a night! I wish you all could have been there!

ETA: And here are even more fun pictures:

Liza Palmer and I contemplate the pole:



The crowd gathers, with food and drink, including the world's most decadent brownies:



Miss Jude Courtney and me:

This week's GCC book is Names My Sisters Call Me, and I've been popping up everywhere: catch me on tour with E. Lockhart, Karin Gillespie, Jennifer O'Connell, Amanda Ashby, Sara Hantz,
Stephanie Kuehnert, Laura Bowers, Tanya Lee Stone, and Shanna Swendson.

Interested in the Great Chick Lit Debate? Over here, they're having a discussion about my assertion that the disdain with which "chick lit" is treated is sexist. What do you think? Join in!

Meanwhile, I have very exciting contest news. Marci is the winner of the Names My Sisters Call Me Contest-- correctly answering that Evan's Kewpie Doll girlfriend in English as a Second Language does not have a name in the text. It was a trick question! Actually, I was positive I had named her something like Muffie, but I was wrong. Congratulations, Marci! Your books are on the way!

And I am pleased to tell you that finally we have a contestant in the Ugliest Dress of All Time Contest! And here I had given up hope! It is not, alas, the originally heinous Bebe dress, which I suspect has been burned as company policy, but it's certainly something else. Please applaud Kari for her courage in sending in the following, complete with arm candy:



Does she have any competition out there? Or will she win by default? The clock is ticking, folks!

Last night at the Borders in Torrance was so much fun! Thank you so much, all you intrepid people who made the long drive from LA-- in rush hour traffic, no less!

This is Manny, the awesome event coordinator:



Here's me at my little podium:



Here's me picking a book at random from the art section behind me-- oh, wait! Is that the classic Draw Fight Scenes Like a Pro by the incomparable Jeff Johnson? I believe it is!



Here's me reading my favorite scene from Names My Sisters Call Me (it's the scene in the bar in San Francisco where Courtney realizes what Raine has photographed) to my delightful audience:



The Q & A, that became a very interesting discussion about writing and books and the difference between the perfect, vibrant book in your head and what ends up on the page:



Me, Jamie M. Fox, and LIza Palmer:



Jamie M. Fox, ladies and gentlemen:



The best poster line up ever:



Me and my husband/event photographer:



Me with my kickass display, which was directly inside the front door. We love Borders:



Last night was also notable because it was the first time in my adult life that I have been addressed as "Shorty." Absent any irony whatsoever. I am not kidding. I was buzzing up to my apartment, because I'd gone out without my keys, and a guy who lives in my building came bounding up the front stairs. "Hey, Shorty," he said, "are you trying to get in?"

Obviously, I had no idea he was talking to me. So I sort of blinked at him, then started, then said, "um... yeah?"

What comes next, in a conversation that starts with being called "Shorty?" A particularly interesting choice on his part, I felt, given that the gentleman in question did not exactly tower over me. Not to put too fine a point on it.

Either way, Shorty got into her apartment building. For real.

Next stop: the ladies-only event at Sheila Kelly's S Factor LA Studio this Saturday, April 19 at 6:30. I hope to see you there!

This is it: the third and final day of my conversation with Liza Palmer! You can read the first part here and the second part here if continuity is important to you. I know I like things in order, but that's me.

My exciting Los Angeles Book Tour begins tomorrow, Tuesday, April 15 at Borders in Torrance on Tuesday, swings by the famous S Factor Studio next Saturday, April 19, and then joins in the fun at the LA Festival of Books later in the month. That's almost too much fun to bear, people!

Names My Sisters Call Me is out right this minute, on bookshelves and hopefully tables near the front of the bookstores near you.



(Cool art by J., by the way.)

Here we go:

Names My Sisters Call Me obviously deals with sisters and the idea of family. Your last book, Frenemies, was about Gus’ urban family – her group of friends that acted as a unit. Looking at Courtney, do you think it’s a different vibe because she has to really look at her history – and not the history of her friends, but her actual DNA? Do you think there’s a difference? Do you think it’s more of a mindfuck when you can’t just not call someone back or write someone off (not that you couldn’t do this with family) but, how do you deal with evolutions and separations when you have to come together every year for the holidays?

I mean, was it different to write scenes between Courtney and Raine – the immature narcissistic baby of the family who runs off with Matt Cheney, as opposed to writing Gus and Helen – the frenemy that broke cardinal rule number one by cheating with Nate – Gus’ first love. Does it hurt more when it’s your sister? Is it more significant when it’s family that scars you – rather than a friend? Or does it matter – a scar’s a scar.

Referring to last Friday first: Yes, Spuffy. Duh. Didn't you know that true fans name the couples they like with catchy combinations, the better to rant about them on internet message boards? You need to expand your horizons, Liza. ( keep reading here )

Hooray! That's it! Now all you need to do is come join us out and about at one of the awesome events this month-- starting tomorrow night at 7:00pm in Torrance, CA, should you finish your taxes before the midnight deadline.

Not in California? In California but nowhere near Torrance? No worries, here's a contest:

Tell me the name of the new chick Alex's ex Evan parades in front of her in English as a Second Language.

You could win a copy of the new book and a copy of the older book of mine of your choice, to be signed according to the name you called your sister! Reply with your answer in the comments!

I'll see you out at one of my fantastic events!



Visit Raine on Myspace!


Part I Part II

Welcome to the second part of my three day interview with Liza Palmer-- or is it her three day interview with me?

You can read the first part here to get caught up. We're getting ready for my Los Angeles Book Tour which begins at Borders in Torrance on Tuesday, April 15, swings by the famous S Factor Studio next Saturday, April 19, and then joins in the fun at the LA Festival of Books later in the month.

And you can join in the fun yourself, wherever you may be, by buying Names My Sisters Call Me, which is officially out today though I've seen it in bookstores all week.

So without further ado, here's Liza to start us off:

Whenever I’m looking at the main characters and their various evolutions in the span of one book, it’s always interesting to see who is the furthest along on their journey. Of the three – really four, because the Mom in Names My Sisters Call Me is an incredible character in and of herself – of the women in Names, whom do you think is the furthest along towards authenticity? And in even asking that question – is that really the goal of every character you write? To find their way back to some form of authenticity? And then taking that question one step farther – do you think each one of your books is another step on your own journey to authenticity?

I'm not sure authenticity is what these women are after. ( keep reading here )

Okay, that's it for today. Check back on Monday for more interview-y goodness. More music, pontificating, and fun, folks! There will also be a cool contest-- you could win a copy of the new book and a copy of the older book of mine of your choice, to be signed according to the name you called your sister! And then the two of you could attend my super cool events together, because let's face it, it is all about sisterly love. Or you could get in a fight about something that happened 15 years ago. I'd be entertained either way!

See you then!



Visit Norah on Myspace!

Part I Part III

My new book is due out tomorrow, but it's already been spotted everywhere and has been shipping from Amazon for some time. Which I guess means.... it's out! Hooray!

In celebration, welcome to a three part, three day conversation with Liza Palmer, as we get ready for my thrilling Los Angeles Book Tour which begins at Borders in Torrance on Tuesday, swings by the famous S Factor Studio next Saturday, and then joins in the fun at the LA Festival of Books later in the month.

Liza and I met through our publisher back in 2005, a few months before her debut novel, Conversations with the Fat Girl launched the 5 Spot line of smart, hip women's fiction for Warner Books (now Grand Central Publishing.) My second book, Everyone Else's Girl, was the second novel in the line up, so Liza and I were sent out on the publishing version of a press junket. We started talking then, and haven't stopped since, as anyone who has sat through one of our dog and pony shows can attest. We've given workshops and participated in panels together, and we spend a lot of time talking about narrative, story, character, and the publishing business while driving along the glorious Pacific Coast Highway in Liza's adorable VW bug.

So what's better than bringing a bit of that California conversation here, to you? Please feel free to chime in if you feel like it!

We’re all lucky that Megan Crane is as prolific as she is. Quick on the heels of the amazing Frenemies, we have yet another literary morsel to sink our teeth into with her next book, Names My Sisters Call Me.

As usual, Megan uses her ridiculously beautiful command of the language to craft another world that envelops, surrounds, flirts, frustrates, awes and most of all invites one to join. I’ve actually never met another author who had such a command of the language and played with it the way Megan does – the way she plays with words, toys with dialogue is like the eternal cat and mouse game. And one that I will continue to be intoxicated by.

But, I digress. ( keep reading here! )

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for part two, and then Monday for the conclusion as well as a cool contest-- you could win a copy of the new book and a copy of the older book of mine of your choice, to be signed according to the name you called your sister! And then, who knows, the two of you could attend my super cool events together, because let's face it, it is all about sisterly love.

See you tomorrow, when we talk more about the Counting Crows, argue about authenticity, and talk playlists for writing novels. Good stuff!



Check out Courtney on Myspace!

Part II Part III